New York's Bravest in black and white: Stunning photographs from first half of the century show courageous FDNY fire fighters in action

The Fire Department of the City of New York has had a proud and expansive history, tracing its beginnings to when New York was merely a small Dutch settlement. In the 1640s, the Fire Ordinance was comprised of eight wardens who would take turns standing watch against potentially deadly flames.

But the FDNY had its official beginnings following the Revolutionary War, and remained to be a volunteer organisation well into the 19th century. Paid companies were gradually added after Westchester and Richmond Counties (now the Bronx and Staten Island) were incorporated into the city in 1898.

The FDNY changed remarkably in the next century, incorporating motor vehicles into their arsenals instead of carriages, and sirens instead of bells. But the bravery of the men – and later, women – who fought to protect the more than 8million residents living within 320 square miles is still the same it was centuries ago. Pictures preserved by the New York City Department of Records from the mid 1910s to the 1930s show moments of such courage.

Burning: A fire at Furman Street stores was combated by two engines

Assessing: Two fire chiefs are seen at the scene of fire - one may be Chief 'Smokey Joe' Martin, according to New York City's records

Fire fighters: Engine 258 is seen fighting a blaze soon after the turn of the century; they used a steam engine

Cinder and smoke: A fire is brought under control using high panel hoses as onlookers watch the burning

Ablaze: Firemen are seen fighting a roaring tenement blaze that sent angry black smoke into the air

Fire and ice: A man looks on at the mounds of frozen icicles following the FDNY extinguished a building fire in December 1917

Damages: A fire at Pathe Sound Studios on 134th Street and Park Avenue killed four girls and six men

Derailed: Fire fighters help evacuate riders after a collision on the elevated subway

Fight fire with water: An aerial view of fire at Grace Line Pier Five, Pier 57, at West 15th Street